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Monday, February 28, 2011

Mason has been hating his infant car seat for a while now. The crotch strap is too tight and every time I buckle it, he fusses. The harness is as loose as it will go and stays that way when he's strapped in. We decided it was time for an upgrade. After much research, we picked one made by The First Years. I was at Toys 'R Us looking at my options, but just couldn't buy one because I HAVE TO look at the online reviews first. I love the internet for this.This seat should last a good while (up to 65 pounds), but it doesn't work with a seat belt, so we will have to buy a booster seat if need be. But, we haven't used the thing yet as it is still sitting on our living room floor. I'm waiting for Grandpa Tim to visit this weekend so he can install it. Tyler doesn't do too well with the whole assembly/installing of things. So, to avoid unnecessary frustration and pouting, we'll wait for The Grandpa to get here before trying it out.

Friday, February 11, 2011

I have started straightjacketing (yes, that is a made up word) Mason for his naps... ...because his hands alway end up going for the mouth. Then he knocks his pacifier out. Then he wakes up. Then I have to put him back to sleep. Rinse and repeat. Hence, the straightjacketing.

Plans change. I see this as a good thing. If my plans had never changed, I would be scooping up monkey poop and my mailbox that would say "Kalissa & Roger & Tim & Kwhitney" would be vandalized daily.

Yep. Here is how my plans have changed over the years. I'm talking big, long term plans, not weekend plans.

Little girl plans:

Marry Grandpa Roger and be a zookeeper. Also, marry my dad. Live with my best friend, Whitney. Change our names to start with the letter "K".

Elementary Plans:

Marry Drew. Whitney will marry Drew's twin, Dan, so that we will be related. Dan and Drew planned to kill everyone off and take over the world, so at least we would be spared as their wives. (We broke up with them shortly after for this reason..)

Junior High Plans:

Go to college at Iowa State with Whitney. Major in business. Marry Brent, have lots of babies.

High School Plans:

Go to Coe College, major in Music Education. Get a job teaching band where I went to school.

College Plans:

Graduate. Get married to Tyler. Go RVing in Europe for our honeymoon. Get a job, in Iowa. Do real estate on the side.

Post-College Plans:

Sub in Minnesota and teach piano lessons. Have babies.

While I did follow through on some of these plans, most were tossed out.I did go to college and major in music ed, but Whitney was not at my side. If she had been, I wouldn't have made the great friends I have today.I did get married. Once. To Tyler. We didn't RV in Europe, but to Maine and back. It was a wonderful trip.I didn't have to sub, because I ended up getting a job teaching after all. In Minnesota. My "dream job" opened up at the school I went to, but I didn't even apply. I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom instead.All my broken plans have led me to where I am today, and I could not be more thankful for the life I have. The only plan that matters is God's.. and he knows what he's doing!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

You are getting better and better at tummy time. You are even starting to enjoy it more, especially when I prop you up on the boppy. But most of the time I make it more challenging and just stick you on the floor. You usually last between 3-10 minutes before starting to fuss.

Bath time is also becoming a more enjoyable experience. You hardly cry anymore during.

You especially like when I flip you over to scrub your backside. You kick and try to jump out of the tub. It just seems like you're having so much fun.

Look at that cute little butt!

You love talking and have lots of things to say. You've even laughed a few times! It is the cutest noise EVER. But, you are still just starting to do so, so the giggles are still only every once and a while. Toys have starting gaining more of your attention, making you more independent. You will be cool just to sit and watch/hit/touch/talk to toys in your pack and play or gym for 10-20 minutes at a time.

Your gym has a mirror, but you aren't too into your reflection yet.

Your favorite part of the gym is "Mr. Sun." He lights up and plays you music. You return the love by always say hello when he is first turned on. The toy-part of your bouncy chair is getting less and less scary. You used to cry when I'd put it on, but now you like it... for about five minutes.

The piano is a go-to gadget. It will play songs that we sing and dance to. You've tried playing it yourself and just stare when you make it do something. I always wish I knew what was going on in that tiny, little head of yours.

A recent favorite. The keys. We already know you can shake them around, but if you start crying, all I have to do is put them above you and jingle them to make you stop.

Speaking of crying...

...you do it when you want. Still don't like those hats (or hoods in this case).

You enjoy sitting up. You are quite wobbly still and I would never let go and walk away (because you'd topple right over), but love the new view.

We'll pull you up from the sitting position and you love to stand! Well, sometimes.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

I'm sure you are thinking, "Those pictures kinda suck..." Well, yes they do. And yes that is laundry laying by Mason's head. And yes, that laundry is still waiting to be placed in it's home. But, the point of the pictures is to capture something I never thought I'd be excited about.

Key jingling.

Yep.

To the average eye, these pictures say--cute baby (duh), messy floor, blurry keys.

To me, these pictures remind me of the time (today) that when I handed Mason the keys, he opened up his fists and grabbed onto them. {insert excited/happy/overreacting mom grin here} Then.... I shook his hands to jingle the keys. He copied and jingled them himself. {insert even bigger excited/happy/overreacting mom grin here}. We did this over and over. And it was extremely exciting. No jumping out of airplanes, bungy jumping, or swimming with the sharks for me. I am cool with just some good old fashion key jingling.